She Was Forced To Marry A Poor Homeless Beggar Unaware He Is The Richest Man
The night her stepmother threatened to remove her sick grandmother from the hospital, Amara was standing barefoot in a mansion kitchen, holding a marriage certificate meant for a man who slept beside a gutter in Lagos.
The rain outside beat against the tall glass windows of the Lekki house, but inside, the air smelled of grilled fish, imported candles, and wickedness. Amara’s fingers trembled around the edge of the paper on the marble counter. Across from her, Madam Bisi sat in a silk wrapper, slowly peeling an orange as if she had all the time in the world.
—Sign it before 12:00, Amara.
Amara swallowed hard.
—Why him?
Madam Bisi smiled without warmth.
—Because nobody will ask questions about a man like that. No family. No voice. No power. Perfect for a paper husband.
Amara looked down at the name space left blank for the groom. Her grandmother, Mama Ngozi, was lying in a private hospital in Surulere, breathing through machines Amara could never afford. Her late father’s will had left medical funds for Mama Ngozi, but Madam Bisi had found a cruel condition hidden in the documents. Amara had to be “married and settled” before the family could release certain trust money.
Madam Bisi did not want to save Mama Ngozi. She wanted the money to rescue her failing logistics company and keep her mansion from creditors.
—If you refuse, the hospital payments stop tonight. By morning, they will move your grandmother to the general ward. You know what happens there.
Amara’s eyes burned, but she refused to cry in front of her.
—Then sign this first.
She pulled out a folded notebook page from her pocket and pushed it across the counter. On it, she had written a promise: Madam Bisi must pay Mama Ngozi’s hospital bills for the next 5 years, no matter what happened to the business.
